TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE

Southside Ministries, an ecumenical partnership of four congregations located here in south Bethlehem, will “formally” celebrate a quarter of a decade of shared outreach to our neighborhoods on Sunday afternoon, November 22^nd at 3 PM at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Packer & Vines Streets, Bethlehem.  The four current member congregations – St. John’s, St. Peter’s, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, and the University Parish of the Holy Ghost – all will participate in the celebration with choirs and clergy from each church playing a role in the worship service.  Because I am the pastor with the longest continued service in any of the four congregations at the present time, I have been given the honor of preaching that afternoon.

Now, I think everyone at St. John’s is aware that we are indeed a member parish of Southside Ministries (SSM).  I wonder, however, how many of you really understand the work that this wonderful ecumenical partnership is involved in.  I wonder that, quite frankly, because only a small percentage of members of St. John’s have any involvement in SSM.  We are represented on the SSM Directing Council by three members in addition to myself.  They are Gene Novak, Kathy Novak, and Sherry Koch.  In fact, Gene serves as President of SSM and Sherry is our Treasurer, so we do have significant representation.  In addition, other members of our parish do help with Southside “Kids,” our ecumenical summer bible school experience.  Others help in our “thrift shop” which provides good, clean clothing at minimal costs.  Still others serve as chaperones at the many youth events that we sponsor as we try to provide wholesome ways for kids on the Southside to spend their time and avoid involvement in gangs.

You know, in the 25^th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus teaches his followers that:  “. . .’I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.  I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me.  I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’  And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Those words of our Lord are the driving force of the active members of Southside Ministries and always have been.  I invite you to mark your calendar and join your brothers and sisters of Southside Ministries as they celebrate 25 years of service in our Lord’s name.